Compare towns
Berkley vs Halifax vs Ware vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berkley | Halifax | Ware | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
7,748 |
10,048Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Berkley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Halifax and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 about the MA average |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #155 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Halifax | Ware | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.